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28 Comments

  1. Cindy DSilva
    July 12, 2024 @ 10:57 am

    I love the library. But there are none around me or even close to the area where I live. So I have e-books and audiobooks now. Otherwise books that I haven’t read from my library. I buy a few books only for my daughter. Because I prefer her not using a mobile for reading.

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  2. Tulika
    July 12, 2024 @ 11:05 am

    This is the best thing I’ve read today Ritu. The figures you provided at the beginning are mind boggling.
    I used to be a huge fan of libraries and I gifted memberships to my childrena nd niece. However, with evolving reading tastes I find too few of them well equipped enough, at least in India.
    In any case, we must continue to do the best we can.

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  3. ambica gulati
    July 17, 2024 @ 7:33 am

    Great way of reinstating the way the world has exploded. We need to become minimalists and sensible at the same with our consumption patterns. I have been aiming to rejoin a library for long, I guess this is the trigger.

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  4. Docdivatraveller
    July 17, 2024 @ 3:53 pm

    I am always trying to follow a sustainable lifestyle but there is one thing I can never switch to. At least for now… E books. I just can’t let go of the smell of pages . I just love buying new books for that reason although I am a big advocate of the library, exchange and hand me down practice!

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  5. Neeta Kadam
    July 18, 2024 @ 5:48 pm

    I love library but now I shifted to new place and I didn’t find any one of it. I like Kindle but can’t read on screen for more than 1 hour. But I found one stall which gives me second hand book. I love library and I am going to find out soon..

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  6. Manali
    July 18, 2024 @ 8:13 pm

    Oh these are absolutely necessary, practical and easy-to-follow steps. Since I’ve turned into an eBook reader, I can’t help but agree that that’s one way of ensuring sustainability. However, the other points here would work wonders too, especially the ones about second-hand books, donating books and having library cards.

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  7. Ratna
    July 19, 2024 @ 10:54 am

    Libraries are excellent places to borrow books from and allow you to read in peaceful silence. More libraries need to be opened. And your eBook point is fantastic too. I’m a physical book purist who converted to eBooks after being convinced of its immense benefits.

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  8. Caroline
    July 19, 2024 @ 11:53 am

    I would love to opt for a library but India seems to be lacking in that aspects. I used to purchase second hand but now I have gone the ebook way, which is the most convenient way. Great article though.

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  9. Varsh
    July 19, 2024 @ 12:25 pm

    Totally with you on this. My spending and collection of physical books have gone down considerably ever since I got a Kindle. Libraries are the best places to explore and find new titles and recommendations. I avoid book swapping though, am too possessive of my books to lend them.

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    • Chandrika R Krishnan
      July 19, 2024 @ 2:14 pm

      I always love browsing in second-hand bookshops and libraries. I must try book swap though. I am too possessive of my books for my own liking

      Reply

  10. Kaveri Chhetri
    July 19, 2024 @ 2:16 pm

    I don’t know if I can ever read from a Kindle cuz I haven’t even opened it once despite owning it for several years😁. But my excuse is that I am no longer as avid a reader as I used to be, so I can buy I guess😄.
    Anyway, loved your post Ritu. After reading it, I had a good realisation that we can have a sustainable lifestyle in several aspects, we only need to understand how and have the will to make the change.

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  11. Janaki
    July 19, 2024 @ 5:52 pm

    Very useful tips Ritu. Kids of our generation were encouraged to go to a library to get books as we couldn’t afford to buy so many books. But today, neither we have a local lending library nor do we abstain from hoarding books. I also liked the idea of swapping books. If we form book clubs and swap books, that would be a great idea, isn’t it?

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  12. Samata
    July 19, 2024 @ 6:22 pm

    The tips are indeed good ones, but I have 2 things to share. I dont like buying 2nd hand books rather I will love taking a book from someone to read and return. On the other hand book donation is one of the best thing one can do to help people and especially kids who are poor and can not buy book but love to read. But not hauling against a penny as I know many of my blogger friends do by selling the review copies they get. I feel it as mere disrespect towards authors who burn a lot out of the pocket to provide a copy of the books to reviewers. Library reading is love for me, but there is none near me. I read from library a lot in my childhood days and in Delhi CR park area also.

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  13. Ishieta
    July 20, 2024 @ 12:35 am

    I have been trying to implement these points, but find that sometimes i end up buying a book anyway. i do try and shop second hand and borrow/lend with friends where possible. We dont have a library anymore, i dont think my state does.

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  14. Preeti Chauhan
    July 20, 2024 @ 11:25 am

    I still remember as kids we had these small book clubs where we would swap books with each other to save money and read more books. It has become a bit difficult with no such people in proximity, but I do love buying books from flea markets or opting for used books.
    This also raises the question – are newspapers and paper books to be banished to save the ecosystem, is going digital the only solution to sustainable reading?

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  15. Geethica
    July 20, 2024 @ 1:12 pm

    I agree that sustainability talks shouldn’t be limited to Earth Day but to be practised daily. I am happy that I donate books to the library which I have read or that I didn’t like. I learnt about green publishers from your post and I will be observant of it from now onwards.

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  16. Jeannine
    July 20, 2024 @ 5:30 pm

    I’m happy to share that my daughters had have their share of love for books and yes, I realized the dilemma of how costly books nowadays are as well as the impact of buying books can have on the world. Getting a library card answers all those problem and it’s a great way too to lessen phone time.

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  17. Deepti Menon
    July 20, 2024 @ 8:09 pm

    Libraries are such warm places. We had a home library when I was growing up and I used to act as a librarian once I was back from college. Your post is such a useful one, and your tips easy to follow. I have begun to read books on the Kindle app, even though I have always loved physical books, and still do. I also remember how we used to browse around at Moore Market in Chennai ( it was Madras those days), looking for second-hand books, till the whole place burned down. Quite broke my heart! Book swapping is also a brilliant idea. Thanks for your interesting post.

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  18. Harjeet Kaur
    July 21, 2024 @ 5:37 pm

    Sustainable reading is a great topic, Ritu. I could not afford to buy cooks and I used to walk to the library from age 7 to read. Buying second hand and donating books is the best way to be sustainable.

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  19. Felicia
    July 21, 2024 @ 8:46 pm

    The last time I visited a library was a few years ago. The books were poorly maintained and those who borrowed them or used them had made a mess of it. We really need to be more mindful and respectful when using public resources like libraries to ensure they remain a valuable asset for everyone.Book swaps are such a fun way to share the love of reading.

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  20. Pamela Mukherjee
    July 22, 2024 @ 1:03 am

    Sustainable reading tips are great. I guess I can follow all the tips except the digital read, a paper book has its aura, maybe we can start exchanging books and old copies.

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  21. Aditi Kapur
    July 22, 2024 @ 3:50 am

    When I read the title, I was curious to know how a book-lover like you would treat it with your words;)
    I appreciate your steps to reduce your carbon footprint by reading sensibly.

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  22. Madhu Bindra
    July 24, 2024 @ 1:21 pm

    That is a lot of trees. I remember our discussion before we wrote this. Most people think that digital books are better but they have their own carbon footprint.

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  23. Sukaina Majeed
    July 29, 2024 @ 3:44 pm

    buying second hand books are such an important step for us readers and i am a proud second book hoarder all through mmy early 20s an sometimes you find gems which one wouldnnt find anywhere .

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  24. Kanchan Singh
    July 30, 2024 @ 12:17 am

    Great tips for sustainable reading! I’ve started using my local library more and buying second-hand books. And, you know i am surprised to get beautiful gems there

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  25. Jaideep Khanduja
    July 30, 2024 @ 1:41 pm

    This is such an eye-opening article! The numbers highlighting the environmental impact of the publishing industry are staggering. Your tips on sustainable reading are practical and easy to follow. I’ve started using my local library more and love the experience of discovering new books without contributing to more tree-cutting. Supporting indie bookstores and buying second-hand books are fantastic suggestions too. For those who can’t let go of the feel of a physical book, these steps can make a big difference. Thanks for shedding light on how we can continue our love for reading while being eco-friendly.

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  26. Careena
    July 30, 2024 @ 9:38 pm

    Oh this would be a hard one for me. I love physical books. They are a collection. I think I’ll do my bit for the environment in other ways and leave the books alone. Though I do minimize my use of notebooks. Taking notes digitally is one way I do that…

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  27. Noor Anand Chawla
    September 11, 2024 @ 5:17 pm

    These are all wonderful tips. Growing up, libraries were the way I read books and now I frequently donate books that I’m done with reading. Till my baby was born last month, I had also implemented a policy of only buying e-books unless they were the Christie’s which I’m collecting for my Project Poirot. But now I’m scared to put digital devices next to the baby so it’s back to physical copies for some time!

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